Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-08
THE RAILROADS.
psoosKpIses BEFORE THE INTER
STATE coKmERcg COMMISSION.
Various Matters Discussed Points Raised
by the. Transportation Lines
san Ffanoisco's Query.
ny telegraph n ths Dlspach.l


Of the interstate commerce law so far
- il would apply to traffic taken across
Lake Michigan 10 Grand Haven and
destined TO points cast OF the Detroit
and ~. Chair rivers, and having as
signed rs rcas n for such suspension
that said raj way company owns and
opertes line Of boats ON Lake
Michigan and has been doing SO for
many years past. and by common con-
sent Of it's comp, titors has been allowed
TO charge less rate from Milwaukee, by
way OF Grand Haven, on the traffic
above mentioned than is charged on all
rail lines by way Of Chicago on like
traffic. End that making OF such less
rates by said railway company is Just
and fair as between Milwaukee and Chi
cago, and is necessary to enable said
petitioner to compete with said lines by
Way of Chicago. and said railway com
pany having further shown that between
certain points on its line east of Lake
Michigan it has been customary to make
ratcs on such traffic which are greater
for shorter than for longer haul, which
greater charges are reasonable and cor
respond TO those made by competing
lines, and the commission having heard
said application and duly considered 1t,
and il appearing to the commission that
The case is proper one for temporary
relief. the commission makes an order
m this case similar in terms to that OF
the Southern Railway and Steamship
Association.
The application Of the steamship lines
md merchants of Boston TO authorize
ihc trunk lines Of railroad from Chicago
70 RostOD TO continue the export trade
on the same basis as heretofore, giving
canal rates to New York on oil mer-
chandisc exported. has been referredto
Commissioner Walker for investigation.
The commission will take recess from
TODAY until Friday of next week, during
which time Commissioner Walker will
visit Boston and examine into the mat
ter.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC AND LONG AND
SHORT HAUL.
The commission gave out tele-
graphic correspondence between SEN
ator Stanford, president of the South
crn Pacific Railroad Company, and the
Poard Of Commissioners, in regard to
the construction and application of the
fourth section Of the act, which con-
taips the long and short-haul clause.
Senator Stanford telegraphed the COM
mission as follows:
The question is before us, in COM
petition with the Suez-Canal route for
lusinos IS with China and Japan, whether
we can make competing prices through
TO Atlantic ports at less than local rates
charged from San Francisco to New
York, the line from China and Japan
being continuous one in connection
with the Central Pacific railways. The
question is also before us of making, i'll
competition with Cape Horn and the
Isthmus of Panama, a railroad rate that
permits shipments between San Fran
cisco and Atlantic ports. "
Senator Stanford added owe con-
siue the 18th section of the interstate
act to be in substance the application
Of the. common-law principle that the
earlier may meet and the shipper may
avail himself OF competition, and that
less rate may be charged for longer
than a shorter distance, providing more
could not be obtained. If this fight
Of competition is recognized as
between the carrier and the ship
per, our carrying business will
not be interrupted but otherwise
We shall be unable to compete for the
Chinese and Japanese trade with the
Snez canal, and also unable to compete
with water routes by Panama and Cape
Horn for business originating i'll Cali
i0rnia."
The commission replied that apph-
cations TO the commission for special
exceptions under the interstate com
merce law can only be granted after
investigation into the facts. A veri-
fed petition, setting forth the grounds
of application. should be presented.
TO this Senator Stanford replied that
he did not ask for a ruling, but con.
stTuctiOn OF section 4, and he stated
that this construction was regarded as
necessary Mt once in order that his
board might determine what rates to
make with freights now arriving and
about TO arrive from China and Japan.
The commission declined TO make any
ruling or construction upon the case as
presented.
OTHER POINTS NAMED FOR LONGER
RATES.
The Interstate Commission, upon
the second petition of the Southern
Hallway and Steamship Association
setting forth that certain competitive
pointe had been inadvertently omitted
in their first petition, have to-day
ordered that the following points-to
wit: Petersburg, i'ienmond, and West
Point, Va. Raleigh, Charlotte, and
FAYETTEVILLE, n. c.; Jacksonville,
Fla. ; Florence, S. c. Tarboro', Colds
boro'. and Newberne, n. c.. Knox
Vile, Tenn. Columbus, Miss. (; VIII
liamston, n. c. ~; Charlottesville, Va.
and Georgetown, s. C.--be inserted in
the order promulgated yesterday rs
points from and to which longer rates
may he charged than from and to local
and intermediate points.
OPINION OF RAILROAD OFFICIALS.
PH,1ApE1rHIA, April THE gene
raj opinion among railroad officials in
This city is that the action OF the inter
State Commerce Commission IN the
long and short-haul question concern
ing southern railroads will crusbthe
entire measure. They argue that this
ia the most vital feature OF the entire
act. and that the stand taken by the
even though it be OF
temporary nature, is the entering wedge
that will split the whole log. There
is not a railroad of any consequence III
the entire country" said a prominent
railroad executive officer to-day, THAT
will not make the same claim as that
contended for by the southern lines, and
tn Justice 10 their claim cannot fail to
be recognized. Here, in almost the
first act Of the commission, they array
against them every railroad that has
directly or remotely water route as
competitor land, further than this, they
have taken such a position as viii I'M
settle the commercial afiairsof the coun-
Try for three months or more.
Tiekef-Brokers Knocked ous.
fBy telegraph to the Dispaseh.j
.1 = Noxyhere else in